When you hear the name Taylor Swift, chances are that you are not just thinking about the person, but Taylor Swift as a brand. With the help of her publicist, Swift created and developed a very strong personal brand over the years. It has evolved from an up-and-coming young country singer to the global superstar that we now know.
Her personal branding is not only strong, but it is also authentic. It makes her seem like an approachable celebrity, despite her huge success and fame. Swift shows us, as the public, all different sides of her personality. She shares her creative process and connects with her audience through relatable storytelling. All of these things humanise her, strengthening her emotional connection with her fans and her personal brand.
Here’s some advice on how you can apply Swift’s approach to your own personal branding and social media presence.
Lead with your story
Swift started as a teenager trying to break into the country music scene. But what set her apart wasn’t just her talent playing the guitar or singing – it is her songwriting. She focuses on telling her story in her music, writing about her own experiences. In doing so, she makes others feel seen through her music and writes songs that the masses can relate to.
Like Swift, it’s important to tell your own story through your presence on social media platforms, such as LinkedIn. This can be limited to your professional journey or can also include more personal details, if you wish. Offering an insight into your journey and sharing challenges you have faced along the way will help others relate to you. Connections can be created through this relatability. It means that the content you are posting is more memorable and meaningful.
Evolve but stay recognisable and consistent
Although Swift has evolved a great deal since the beginning of her career, she has always stayed true to her passion for storytelling through her lyrics. She has transitioned from country music into more mainstream pop music and even into indie folk music. Yet, all the while, her fans remain connected to her music, no matter the genre. This is because her songwriting is the most important part of her music, and her fans love her music because of the lyricism and the worlds she creates through storytelling.
Evolution is a positive and inevitable part of life, but if your values and the message you are trying to convey change too much, your audience can feel lost or disconnected. Your audience should be able to recognise your core values, even if you shift the focus of your posts slightly. It is crucial to stay consistent when posting online and trying to build up your personal brand. Posting content regularly and ensuring that the values and tone of voice always align with the image you are creating is the key to success.
Create real connections, not just content
The Swiftie fanbase is involved in all aspects of Swift’s brand and the content that she puts out, not just listening to her music. Swift loves to leave Easter eggs for fans in her lyrics, music videos, social media posts and more. This gives them something to be a part of and to get involved in, allowing Swift’s fanbase to also connect with one another over their shared interest. This builds a powerful sense of community amongst fans and creates a sense of loyalty to Swift.
Building a community online is a great way to develop your personal brand. Interacting with those who engage with your posts by replying to their comments, as well as liking and commenting on others’ social media posts, will show that you are actively engaged with the community. Posting content online isn’t creating an impact if no one is seeing it or engaging with it, which is why creating these connections is so important.
Following this advice should be a good starting point to help you develop your personal brand, from whatever point you are starting.
If you need help managing your personal brand, get in touch.